What makes this different

At its core, this is a Spirit-led, authentic, accessible space where we will talk as though we are two friends on a porch, believing God will guide the conversation.  The hope is you will come away having connected with God, and aware of simple ways to continue stepping towards Him.

What's the twist?  We will record the audio of our time for one or two powerful scenarios:

1. You will have a personal recording of the conversation to come back to later, or
2. You will give the green light for it to be shared on the Where did you see God? Podcast to serve as an encouragement to others!

Why this could encourage you

• Sometimes we just need to be heard.  It can be hard to find spaces where you can be transparent without and agenda or restrictions; when we can freely process, it can be freeing.
• There's power in the "ministry of presence".  Connecting with another can be powerful, no matter what is or isn't said in the time; when the Spirit is involved, the conversation becomes more than words exchanged.
• The Spirit can move, unexpectedly.  We may think we know what we need to say or hear, but in inviting the Spirit we are welcoming "abundantly more than we could ask or imagine."
• Your story matters.  You may feel alone in your struggle, but I can guarantee there are others that will be encouraged by your processing, even if just to discover they are not alone!
• You will have an "ebenezer" of this part of your journey.  Like an old journal entry, this will remain a powerful snapshot that you can come back to for years to come.

What this is not

• This is not counseling or therapy; there are many who are trained to serve in this way.  My role is to create a space where you feel safe to process, and where we are open to how the Spirit may want to work.
• This is not a space to fix problems or get answers; in fact, you may come away with more questions!  You may think you know what you need, but "your Father knows what you need before you ask him," (Matthew 6:8), and we want to be open for what He might have in store.
• This is not at podcast; while our conversation could become an episode of WDYSG?, that is not the purpose.  This means you do not need to be an "expert" or have a "compelling story"; you simply need to be authentic.  It also means this is not a great space for promoting content or services (though that information can be shared at the end and in the show notes.)

How it works

1. Request a time.  Click below to find an hour time slot that works for you, where you can be in a quiet, focused space.  Conversations average 45 minutes, with attentiveness to God's timing.
2. We will start by praying to invite the Spirit to guide the conversation.  We may have our ideas of what the time should be, but I've learned God's ideas are always better.  He may lead us to talk about things we didn't expect, so we make space to welcome it!
3. Then... we enjoy talking!  This is not an interview, nor a podcast session, nor a teaching; this is you and I talking as though we are friends on a porch, open to wherever the conversation goes.
4. We close with a few questions and prayer. 
   • Would you be open to this conversation being shared with others on the podcast? (It's always okay if you say "no" or "not yet", because this is not about making episodes, but what God may have for you!)
   • If yes, is there anything that you'd like edited out?  This can include a story you don't want made public, or any names you shouldn't share.  I will work to remove those as cleanly as possible.  I can even alter your voice to provide anonymity!
   • Based on our conversation, what is a simple next step you could take toward God?  This could be nothing more than a toe nudge, because enough of those will still take you far!

FAQs

• If you're not an ordained pastor or licensed counselor, what is it you are providing?
  • According to the APEST gifts (Ephesians 4:11), I can see how God has cultivated the Shepherding gift within me throughout my life.  In much of what I do, he's allowed me to 1) see others, 2) see/hear them in ways others might not, and 3) know how to create authentic, accessible space to process things.  I know this is not from me, but through the Spirit, so I approach this work humbly and prayerfully.  My hope is to provide that space to you at no cost.
• What can I do in this time?
  • Share a story or lesson that's important to you
  • Ask questions you've been processing
  • Explore a topic together that's been on your mind
  • Come in with no agenda, simply a willingness for God to work
• Do I have to know what I want to talk about?
  • Nope!  Sometimes we simply feel like we need to connect with another, and those can lead to amazing conversations.  Even more, sometimes we think we know what we want to talk about, but God has something different in mind!
• What if I'm uncomfortable with the idea of being on a podcast?
  • Not a problem, because we're not making a podcast episode!  This ministry is about the conversation itself, and if in the end the recording is only for you, that's great!
  • I have had so many conversations with folks who would have been nervous about sharing their voice, and in the end felt like God was inviting them to give their recording as a gift to others.  Some of the most powerful episodes of the podcast are from folks who never wanted to be on one!  The podcast is just a potential bonus byproduct, and I believe it could become a gift you give to the world.
  • God has invited me to make you sound as good as possible if you decide to share your recording, and through the power of editing I can work to tackle things like pauses, umms, and even stumbling-words!
• What if I want to tell people about my book/website/content/etc?
  • That is great, though remember this time is not about self-promotion, but rather you and I authentically connecting to see what God might have in store.  Your content might come up organically, however direct promotion will be saved for the end.  Listeners will value your content more if they've spent time with the authentic you!
• If I choose to share our conversation on the podcast, will it be video or audio only?
  • The podcast has always been audio only for the comfort of the guests, as it eliminates the pressure of appearances and minimizes a performative environment.  We do ask -- if possible -- for a nice picture to be used in episode graphics.
• Hold up... you said "at no cost" above; how do you get paid?
  • Since 2018 I have been trusting God as Provider as I've served as a full-time ministry volunteer.  God has faithfully provided in an array of ways, whether by removing expenses, meeting needs miraculously, or prompting generosity in the hearts of others.  As a result, I am able to provide this space for you with no expectation of remuneration.
  • If you feel God prompting generosity within you, or would like to support this space for others, you can give tax-deductible financial support here.